Before, during and after catastrophic hurricanes, the Defense Department and other uniformed service members are always ready to respond and adapt to any contingency through proper outfitting, practice and coordination. Hurricane Milton made landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula as a Category 3 hurricane bringing substantial wind gusts, dangerous storm surge and flash flooding.
The day after the hurricane, service members quickly pivoted to provide support in a variety of areas, including citizen check-ins and surveys and search and rescue missions.
Service members also began debris cleanup efforts and worked to distribute humanitarian aid.
Hurricane preparation and recovery is an all-hands-on-deck effort, including storm tracking and surveying damage from the air.
From the skies, the Air Force’s Hurricane Hunters flew reconnaissance missions into the eye of the storm to track and gather critical data, working in coordination with hurricane specialists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. After the storm, Florida National Guardsmen conducted flight operations to support response efforts.
More than 5,000 members of the Florida National Guard were mobilized to prepare for recovery efforts ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
Before the hurricane, while members of the Florida National Guard deployed flood prevention equipment, U.S. Army North prepared high-water rescue vehicles, helicopters for search and rescue operations, force to support Federal Emergency Management search and rescue teams and medium-lift helicopters for moving personnel and equipment.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard cutters and Navy Sea Hawks and ships moved to safer areas ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall and began preparing for recovery efforts after the storm passes.
In preparation for recovery efforts, soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Force Group conducted search and rescue training exercises.
